SABC Gains Broadcast Rights to Premier Soccer League

South African broadcaster, medic SABC has secured the radio broadcast rights to the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

The deal is a trade-exchange in which the SABC will in return provide airtime to the PSL.

According to the agreement, sale 11 SABC radio stations will continue with their tradition of broadcasting live premiership matches.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza said this agreement was part of the PSL’s plan to raise the standard of South African football to an even higher plateau.

With the PSL already regarded as the richest league in Africa, illness Khoza hopes to translate the off-the-field success to matters on the pitch by introducing a range of innovations to stoke excitement among supporters, such as the Q-Innovation strategy.

Khoza said: “The ‘week in and week out’ of pre-match conversations in the 11 SABC radio stations will enable and enhance participation by the fans and supporters of the beautiful PSL game in what is clearly their passion.

“The Q-Innovation has succeeded in getting every match of the league to be played by clubs as if it is a knockout competition game.

“Gone are the days when a draw away from home was considered a good result. From this season, a draw is a loss of two points.”

The league’s first fixture, when all the teams play their first game, opened with 25 goals during the eight games, which is a 25% increase from the equivalent period last year, before the launch of Q-Innovation.

SABC acting chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said: “We are delighted that we can utilise the power of our radio stations, to fulfil our mandate of showing sports of national importance.

“For the South African public, the love of soccer is strong and this partnership with the PSL will ensure that we can provide our audiences with compelling sports programming, while generating revenue for the organisation.”